Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-07-21
George Mason OF Gunston Hall.

Sir: The description in the EUening Post,
July 3, by III e w" of the "Home of the
Masons.' il Fairfax county, Va, though
full Of interest as II sketch of the place, is
wanting in important points of family his
tory, of which the writer candidly admits
''it is singulary hard to learn from books
any details" Some of these details ] am,
as the husband OF direct descendany of
George Mason, enabled to supply from
trustworthy sources, and venture 10 offer
for your columns.
The founder OF this great Virginia fami-
ly" was Col. George Mason mot john, -
member of the Long Parliament and q sol
der in the Cavalier Army" lie came to
Norfolk county, Va, in 1851, but soon re-
moved to :. plantation on Acohick creek,
near Pasbitaney, or the Potomac, where he
lived, died, and was buried. In 1876 he
commanded volunteer force against the
Indians in Bacon's rebellion, and the same
year represented his county of Stafford in
the House of Burgesses. This county had
been the preceding year carved out of West
moreland, and had been named, at Col Ma
sons instance after his native shire in Eng
land.
LIS GlUGSb SOn, lUb S6COHu NcOlSS NkdSOI
married Mary, daughter Of Gerard Fowke,
esq, of Gunston Hall, Staflordshire, Eng
land. The eldest son of his marriage was
the third George Mason, who, like his faith
or before him, lived and died on the patri-
monial estate of Acohick. Their wills are
of record in Stafford County Court In
171O and Ills respectively. The fourth
George Mason, eldest son of the last named
married daughter of Stevens Thompson, OF
the Middle Temple, Attorner- General of the
colony of Virginia in the reign of Queen
Anne. He established a plantation of 600
acres at Doee's Neck, on the Potomac, in
what was then Stafford (now Fairfax and
was Lieutenant in that county in 17l9.
Though meeting his death by the accidental
upsetting OF a sailboat on the river, his body
was laid to rest at Doeg's Neck. He left
daughter and two sons.
The elder of these sons was George Ma
son, the fifth of the name, born in 1126. the
author of The Declaration of Rights who,
inheriting bis fathers estate, changed the
name and erected there q handsome man
sion, which he called Gunston Hall. The
Younger brother was Thompson Mason. who
fixed his residence in the county of Loudoun,
which he frequently represented IN the
House of Burgesses, and was eminent as
lawyer. His son, Stevens Thompson Ma
son, was q member of the Virginia Conven-
tion that adopted the Federal Constitution,
and subsequently United States Senator, a
dignity which was also attained by his son,
Armstead Thompson Mason.
George Mason Of Gunston Hall married
Ann Elbeck of Charles county, Maryland,
who died at the age of thirty.nine. After
many years he married lady named Brent;
but of this union there was no ISSUE His
eldest son, George of Lexington" the sixth
of the name, a captain in the Revolutionary
Army, succeeded on his fathers death in
1892 to the possession of Gunston Hall, and
was the last that ever lived there. In the
five generations since his time there have
been several George Masons, but it is not in
anv sense correct to say that ''eight genera.
tonsn of them "have gone outfrom Gunston
Hail."
George Mason of Gunston left five sons
and four daughters, all of whom married
and had issue. The fourth and last surviv-
ing son was John Mason Of Analostan ls-
land, the father of James Murray Mason,
who was from 1S47 to 1861 United States
Senator from Virginia. With Slidell he
figured in the Trent affair, and was after
wards Confederate Commissioner in Eng
land. He is the only direct descendant ever
in the upper house Of Congress.
The eldest daughter of John Mason be-
came the wife of the late Samuel Cooper,
formerly in the Federal service, and after
wards Acknowledgement of the Confederate
Army, of which he was the ranking officer.
Another daughter married S. Smith Lee,
brother of Robert Z. Lee, and is the mother
of the present Governor of Virginia. Both
these ladies survive.
There may be % family of Masons still
living in Fairfax county who were staunch
Unionists during the rebellion" but they
are not descendants of the author of 1.-The
Declaration of Rights" none of whom, to
my certain knowledge, were ever untrue to
their State.
i. NJ. BLACKBOARD.
Fairfax County, Va, July 10.